Millions of dollars pour into Gardner-Udall race for U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate showdown between Democrat Mark Udall and Republican Cory Gardner is less than five months old, but already the race is on pace to become one of the most expensive elections in Colorado history.

Through June 30, the two men have collected a combined $18.7 million — nearly $13.7 million for Udall and about $5 million for Gardner — according to campaign records made public this week.

If that cash flow continues, the contest would smash the previous record for a U.S. Senate race in Colorado, set in 2008 when Udall first won his seat by beating Republican Bob Schaffer. The candidates raised roughly $19.1 million in that race, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in elections.

Two factors are driving the fundraising bonanza. Polls show the race is extremely close — if not statistically tied. And the winner could determine which party controls the Senate next year, a prize that's raising the stakes significantly.

The candidates aren't waiting to spend their money, either.

Udall's campaign, in a bid to define Gardner early, already has run television commercials attacking Gardner's record on both the economy and reproductive rights. Gardner has responded with his own ads, criticizing Udall as both an ally of President Barack Obama and a supporter of the Affordable Care Act.

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Funding these efforts are contributions big and small.

Aides to Udall have boasted that much of his support comes from small donors. From April 1 to June 30, for example, about 73 percent of his contributions were less than $100, according to his campaign.

"Coloradans are rallying behind Mark Udall because they know he is focused on creating opportunity, building a stronger middle class and protecting our right to live life on our own terms," said Adam Dunstone, Udall's campaign manager, in a statement.

Still, the veteran politician has relied on special-interest money too.

Nearly $2.9 million in donations have come from political action committees, ranging from at least $24,000 in contributions from abortion-rights groups to about $100,000 from the defense industry, according to federal election data and the Center for Responsive Politics. He has also received $5,000 from a Facebook PAC.

Udall also has relied on so-called "bundlers," mega-fundraisers who help raise money from other supporters. One of them, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, has steered at least $164,000 his way, according to the group.

Gardner, meanwhile, has relied on individual donors with bigger checkbooks — at least over the past three months. About half of his supporters gave more than $100 between April 1 and June 30 and the average individual contribution was $360, according to his campaign.

"It's clear that Coloradans are energized and ready for a new generation of leadership in the Senate," Gardner said in a statement.

Like Udall, Gardner also has been a magnet for special-interest cash, netting about $1.3 million so far, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

A big chunk of that haul comes from PACs representing the energy sector, which has pumped at least $230,000 into Gardner's campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. He has also received money from PACs representing Cracker Barrel, Burger King and snowmobilers.

In spite of the early spending, both Udall and Gardner still have millions of dollars banked away. As of June 30, Udall had about $5.7 million cash-on-hand; Gardner had roughly $3.4 million.

Hanging over both candidates, however, is the threat of outside money. Given the stakes of the race, both sides are anticipating millions of dollars in advertising from groups ranging from service unions to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.